How to Make Use of Home Remedies to Reduce Swelling in Feet?

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Swollen feet are quite prevalent and can happen to anyone, but is most common among pregnant women. If you, too, are affected by swollen feet quite regularly, it’s best to keep some handy treatments in mind. The swelling is caused when excess fluids accumulate in the feet.

Finding out the cause behind the swelling is more vital as it can be caused due to numerous reasons, which include ill-fitting shoes, wearing high heels all day, desk-bound lifestyle, sports injuries, obesity, and infections, among other things. Are swollen feet and ankles slowing you down? Try one of these natural home remedies.

What causes swollen ankles, legs, and feet?

The cause of swelling in the feet is due to the accumulation of tissue fluids which leads to edema(1). If you are wondering on why my feet are swollen then note the different causes that include:

Gain in excessive weight

Standing or sitting with the legs suspended for a prolonged period

Overuse of drugs, diuretics, and laxatives

Excessive consumption of pregnancy control pills

Varicose veins are what causes legs to swell from knees down

Aging

Renal problems which cause retention of electrolytes

Premenstrual syndrome

Deficiency of nutrients

Pregnancy

Lack of movement and exercise

Poor blood circulation in the feet

Injuries like ankle sprains and twists

Damage to the ligament

Neuro-muscular issues

Symptoms

Swollen feet and ankles get associated with several different symptoms, some of which are listed below:

How to Reduce Swelling in Feet

CURE 1: Foods

Ginger

One of the best how to reduce swelling in feet, swelling on ankles and right leg swelling home remedies is the administration of ginger.

How to use?

Grate an inch of ginger and extract its juice

Add a tablespoon of hot mustard oil to the grated ginger

Massage your feet, ankles, right and left legs with the ginger-mustard oil

Do this twice or thrice a day for how to reduce swelling in feet, legs, and ankles

Benefits

The diuretic nature of ginger is highly beneficial for the natural treatment of swollen feet and legs. Massaging with ginger helps in the dilution of sodium which aids in the alleviation of swelling. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger help to cure inflammation and pain of the swollen top of foot, legs, and ankles.

Precaution

Make sure that the ginger and mustard oil mixture is not too hot otherwise the skin will get scalded.

Foods to Eat

Foods to Avoid

Fish

Canned food

Eggs

Alcohol

Cherries

Junk food

Strawberries

Processed food

Blueberries

White bread

Cranberries

Common salt

Apples

Processed meat

Onions

Foods high in sodium

Garlic

Cauliflower

Cabbage

Red bell peppers

Green tea

CURE 2: Herbal Treatments

Dandelion

The administration of dandelion is highly beneficial for the natural treatment of swollen ankles, lower leg swelling, one swollen ankle, and swollen left foot.

How to use?

Add two teaspoons of fresh and dried leaves and flowers of dandelion to a cup of water

Put the water on boil until the dandelion gets completely infused

Let the infusion simmer down for about 5-7 minutes

Add a teaspoon of honey to the dandelion infusion

Drink freshly brewed dandelion tea twice a day for the natural cure of swollen feet and ankles in hot weather

Benefits

Dandelion is known for its diuretic properties that help in the metabolism and dissipation of tissue fluids. It also helps in the regulation of sodium and prevents the retention of excessive water in the body cells and aids in how to reduce swelling in feet.

Precaution

Do not drink dandelion infusion if your gastrointestinal tract reacts adversely to it.

CURE 3: Essential Oil

Tea Tree Oil

Image: Shutterstock

Tea tree essential oil is one of the most effective swelling in legs home remedies. Topical application of the diluted oil can treat swollen feet, ankles, and legs quickly and help you on how to reduce swelling in feet.

How to use?

Add two teaspoons of tea tree essential oil to a tablespoon of mustard oil to make an oil mixture

Massage your swollen feet with the oil mixture before going to bed at night

Let the oil mixture seep in through your skin to work on the accumulated fluids

Benefits

Tea tree essential oil is highly beneficial for how to reduce swelling in knee and ankles. Massaging the swollen feet and legs with diluted tea tree essential oil helps in the draining out of the accumulated fluids. The massaging makes the swelling subside overnight. Its anti-inflammatory nature is incredibly useful for the natural cure for pain, inflammation, swelling, and redness of the affected area.

Precaution

Conduct a patch test by applying the tea tree essential oil to an unaffected area of skin to test the sensitivity of skin to it. If your skin reacts with itchiness or irritation, then do not proceed with the remedy.

CURE 4: Home Remedies

Apple cider vinegar

Image: Shutterstock

The use of apple cider vinegar is incredibly effective for the natural treatment of swollen feet, left ankle swelling, and swollen left foot caused by alcohol.

How to use?

Mix a cup of apple cider vinegar with a cup of warm water to prepare a solution

Soak a clean cloth in the solution

Wrap the soaked cloth around the swollen part of your hands and feet

Keep the swelling wrapped until the cloth turns cold

Do this twice daily for the swelling to subside

Alternatively, you can add two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar to a glass of lukewarm water and drink the solution twice in a day to alleviate the swelling in feet

Benefits

Apple cider vinegar is rich in potassium which is an electrolyte that aids in the regulation of fluid retention in the body. Drinking apple cider vinegar promotes internal cleansing of the body by stimulating the renal system to flush out toxins at an accelerated rate. The application of warm compress prepared with apple cider vinegar helps in the alleviation of swelling in feet and ankles in just a few hours.

Precaution

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is highly effective for the cure of swelling in feet and ankles.

How to use?

Heat a tablespoon of organic coconut oil

Massage your swollen feet and ankles with the lukewarm oil

Do this thrice daily for the swelling to disappear

Benefits of using coconut oil

Coconut oil is replete with healthy fatty acids. Massaging the swollen parts of the legs with warm coconut oil nourish the skin and promote the natural cure of swollen feet and ankles.

CURE 5: Natural Treatments

Contrasting hydrotherapy treatment

The contrasting hydrotherapy method of treatment is a unique way for how to reduce swelling in feet and legs that occur during the period of pregnancy.

How to use?

Fill a tub with hot water and another tub with cold water

Dip one foot in the hot water tub and another in the cold water tub

Interchange the feet at every interval of 5 minutes

Do this twice daily for about half an hour for the alleviation of swollen feet by pregnancy

Benefits

The contrast in temperature helps in establishing the flow of blood in the legs. It reduces the swelling in about 30 minutes or so. The heat establishes healthy blood circulation and the cold temperature aids in the alleviation of fluid retention, swelling, pain, and inflammation of the feet. This remedy is especially beneficial for the natural treatment of swollen feet caused by injuries to the ankles like ligament strain and ankle sprain.

Precaution

Test the temperature of the water and make sure that it is not too hot or too cold to scald your skin.

Bottom Line

The home remedies are excellent for the natural treatment of swollen feet. They do not have any toxic side effects nor do they affect the digestive system, unlike chemical medicines and drugs. However, if the swelling persists for long, or gets aggravated with time, then consult a physician immediately. Follow the remedies as mentioned above for how to reduce swelling in feet naturally.

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